A glucose sensor fabricated by piezoelectric inkjet printing of conducting polymers and bienzymes.

Piezoelectric inkjet printing of polymers and proteins holds great promise for fabrication of miniaturized bioelectronic devices, such as biochips and biosensors. In this study, a bienzymatic glucose biosensor prototype based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT-PSS), glucose oxidase (GOD), and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was fabricated by a piezoelectric inkjet printer. An aqueous bioelectrical ink containing PEDOT-PSS, GOD, and HRP was prepared and printed on an indium-tin-oxide (ITO)-coated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film.

Decellularized extracellular matrix derived from human adipose tissue as a potential scaffold for allograft tissue engineering.

Decellularized tissues composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) have been clinically used to support the regeneration of various human tissues and organs. Most decellularized tissues so far have been derived from animals or cadavers. Therefore, despite the many advantages of decellularized tissue, there are concerns about the potential for immunogenicity and the possible presence of infectious agents.

Screening and characterization of high-affinity ssDNA aptamers against anthrax protective antigen.

The protective antigen (PA) of Bacillus anthracis is a secreted protein that functions as a critical virulence factor. Protective antigen has been selected as a biomarker in detecting bacterial infection. The in vitro selection method, systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), was used to find single-stranded DNAs that were tightly bound to PA.

Differences between bipolar I and bipolar II disorders in clinical features, comorbidity, and family history.

Background: The present study was designed to investigate whether bipolar II disorder (BP-II) has different characteristics from bipolar I disorder (BP-I), not only in manic severity but also in clinical features, prior course, comorbidity, and family history, sufficiently enough to provide its nosological separation from BP-I.

Methods: Comprehensive clinical evaluation was performed based on information available from ordinary clinical settings. Seventy-one BP-I and 34 BP-II patients were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies, Korean version.

Diagnostic stability of first-episode psychosis and predictors of diagnostic shift from non-affective psychosis to bipolar disorder: a retrospective evaluation after recurrence.

Diagnostic changes during follow-up are not uncommon with a first-episode psychosis (FEP). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic stability of the FEP and to identify factors associated with a diagnostic shift from non-affective psychosis to bipolar disorder. Considering that the diagnosis of FEP is frequently more definite after recurrence in many clinical settings, a retrospective evaluation after recurrence was preformed.

Hemolytic disease of the newborn associated with anti-Jra alloimmunization in a twin pregnancy: the first case report in Korea.

Jr(a) is a high-frequency antigen found in all ethnic groups. However, the clinical significance of the anti-Jr(a) antibody has remained controversial. Most studies have reported mild hemolytic disease of the newborn and fetus (HDNF) in Jr(a)-positive patients.

Pluronic/chitosan hydrogels containing epidermal growth factor with wound-adhesive and photo-crosslinkable properties.

Wound-adhesive and thermo-responsive hydrogels were prepared in an aim to develop a wound-care device for diabetic ulcers. A mixture of glycidyl methacrylated chitooligosaccharide (COS), di-acrylated Pluronic, and a recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) formed a physical hydrogel. Photo-irradiation was subsequently applied to chemically crosslink the hydrogel.

Association of seasonality and premenstrual symptoms in bipolar I and bipolar II disorders.

Background: Although seasonal affective disorder and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are frequently observed in mood disorders, little is known as to whether lifetime traits of seasonality and premenstrual distress are related to bipolar disorder independent of mood episodes. This study aimed at investigating these two cyclic traits with respect to bipolar I and II disorders as well as evaluating the association between them.

Methods: Subjects included 61 female patients with bipolar I or II disorders and 122 healthy women.

Nerve growth factor (NGF)-conjugated electrospun nanostructures with topographical cues for neuronal differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultivated on the surface of nerve growth factor (NGF)-conjugated aligned nanofibrous meshes for neuronal differentiation. Amine-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) was conjugated to poly(ε-caprolactone) to prepare amine-functionalized block copolymers. The synthesized polymer was electrospun in a rotating drum to prepare aligned nanofibrous meshes.

Improvement of stem cell viability in hyaluronic acid hydrogels using dextran microspheres.

Although hyaluronic acid (HA) has been widely used in clinics as an injectable biomaterial, it may not be appropriate as an injectable stem cell carrier because highly hydrophilic HA hydrogels provide an unfavorable environment in which the encapsulated stem cells are likely to be constrained to a round shape, thereby losing their native morphology. Herein, we hypothesized that dextran microspheres (DMs) can improve stem cell viability in HA hydrogels because they can act as substrates for stem cell adhesion, spreading and proliferation. DMs with a mean diameter of 80 μm were mixed with HA hydrogels.

Can preoperative diffusion-weighted MRI predict postoperative hepatic insufficiency after curative resection of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma? A pilot study.

Liver fibrosis determines the functional liver reserve. Several studies have reported that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) can assess liver fibrosis. We investigated whether DW-MRI predicts postoperative hepatic insufficiency and liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Nano-inspired fibrous matrix with bi-phasic release of proteins.

Nanofibrous matrix was fabricated for the purpose of obtaining bi-phasic protein releases from a single protein delivery system. A block copolymer composed of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) was co-electrospun with protein solutions through a dual nozzle electrospinning system. Surface-exposed amine groups of the protein-encapsulating nanofiber at an aqueous phase were chemically conjugated to the carboxyl groups of another protein for surface-immobilization.

GIPC mediates the generation of reactive oxygen species and the regulation of cancer cell proliferation by insulin-like growth factor-1/IGF-1R signaling.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/IGF-1 receptor signaling participates in a variety of cellular processes, including cell survival, growth, and proliferation. Increased expression of IGF-1R and activation of its downstream signaling components have been implicated in human cancers. Although a regulatory role for IGF-1R has been established, the relationship between IGF-1R and its binding partner, GAIP-interacting protein C-terminus (GIPC), in terms of promoting cell proliferation, remains unclear.

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of liver on 3.0-Tesla system: effect of intravenous administration of gadoxetic acid disodium.

Objective: To determine whether intravenous administration of gadoxetic acid disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA) affects lesion conspicuity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCs) in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for hepatic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3.0 T.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with 50 focal hepatic lesions (18 hepatocellular carcinomas, 12 metastases, 1 cholangiocarcinoma, 7 haemangiomas, 12 cysts) underwent DWI at 3.

Preoperative staging of papillary thyroid carcinoma: comparison of ultrasound imaging and CT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound imaging with that of CT in the preoperative evaluation of primary tumors and cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and to determine whether CT has greater diagnostic value than ultrasound alone in the care of these patients.

Materials And Methods: The study population consisted of 299 consecutively registered patients with pathologically proven papillary thyroid carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracies of ultrasound, CT, and the combination of ultrasound and CT in the evaluation of primary tumors and lymph node metastasis were compared.

Fabrication of porous extracellular matrix scaffolds from human adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue is found over the whole body and easily obtained in large quantities with minimal risk by a common surgical operation, liposuction. Although liposuction was originally intended for the removal of undesired adipose tissue, it may provide an ideal material for tissue engineering scaffolds. Here we present novel, porous scaffolds prepared from human adipose tissues.

Human extracellular matrix (ECM) powders for injectable cell delivery and adipose tissue engineering.

Here, we present extracellular matrix (ECM) powders derived from human adipose tissue as injectable cell delivery carriers for adipose tissue engineering. We postulate that human adipose tissue may provide an ideal biomaterial because it contains large amounts of ECM components including collagen. Fresh human adipose tissue was obtained by a simple surgical operation (liposuction).

Trends in avoidable death over 20 years in Korea.

To evaluate the achievement of health care services in Korea independent of other socioeconomic factors, we observed the time trend of avoidable death between 1983 and 2004. A list of avoidable causes of death was constructed based on the European Community Atlas of "Avoidable Death". We calculated sex- and age-standardized mortality rates of Korean aged 1-64 yr using data of the Korea National Statistical Office.

Colonic pseudoobstruction: CT findings.

Objective: The purpose of this review was to define the imaging features of colonic pseudoobstruction and to describe the pathologic findings.

Conclusion: Colonic pseudoobstruction can be diagnosed on the basis of CT findings that show extensive colonic dilatation without an obstructive lesion at the intermediate transitional zone or adjacent to the splenic flexure. Pathologic examination reveals that intramural ganglion damage has a high tendency to occur in cases of chronic colonic pseudoobstruction.

Diffusion-limited reactions in G-protein activation: unexpected consequences of antagonist and agonist competition.

In this work, we ask whether the simultaneous movement of agonist and antagonist among surface receptors (i.e. continually associating and dissociating from individual receptors according to specified kinetics) has any unexpected consequences for G-protein activation and receptor desensitization.

[A korean family with Wilson disease occurred in two consecutive generations.].

Wilson disease (WD) is one of the most common inborn errors of metabolism characterized by degenerative changes in the brain, liver and kidney dysfunction, and Kayser-Fleischer rings due to toxic accumulation of copper. We investigated a Korean family with WD occurred in two consecutive generations. The proband, a 14-yr-old girl, was noticed to have abnormal liver function on a routine health examination at school and was diagnosed of having WD by further laboratory tests and liver biopsy.

[Evaluation of Plasma Homocysteine Assay by ADVIA Centaur Analyzer.].

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases that can be usually reversed with vitamin supplements. Quantitative analysis of homocysteine helps to identify patients who might get benefits from the intervention therapy. Recently, as the automated homocysteine assay (ADVIA Centaur, Bayer, USA) by direct chemiluminesence method has been developed, we evaluated the performance of the ADVIA Centaur immunoassay analyzer for homocysteine.

In vivo wound healing of diabetic ulcers using electrospun nanofibers immobilized with human epidermal growth factor (EGF).

Biodegradable polymers were electrospun and recombinant human epidermal growth factor (EGF) was immobilized on the electrospun nanofibers for the purpose of treating diabetic ulcers. Amine-terminated block copolymers composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) [PCL] and poly(ethyleneglycol) [PEG] and PCL were electrospun to biocompatible nanofibers with functional amine groups on the surface via PEG linkers. EGF was chemically conjugated to the surface of the nanofibers.

Human mesenchymal stem cell transplantation promotes functional recovery following acute spinal cord injury in rats.

Many attempts have been made in animals to produce cellular regeneration in the spinal cord using a variety of transplanted cell types. The present study was to investigate whether transplantation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into the spinal cord after contusion injury promotes a functional outcome. Spinal cord injury (SCI) was induced using an NYU impactor and hMSCs were transplanted 1 week after SCI.